AND MUMMY OLUWAKEMI ABIODUN FLEW TO HEAVEN: AN IMPACTFUL AND EXEMPLARY LIFE OF SERVICE TO GOD AND HUMANITY

Life is truly like a vapour which appears for a little time and then vanishes away. No matter how long the vapour lasts and its rate of diffusion, what is more important is what happens when the vapour vanishes completely. For Oluwakemi Adebola Abiodun , the good news is the assurance of ” well done , good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in a few things, I will set you over many. Enter into the joy of the Lord.

The bracket opened on Sunday 29th January, 1961 as a baby girl was added to the family of Pa Akintunde Laseinde and Mama Abiodun oladimeji, (Nee Oladunjoye) in Ora Igbomina of Osun State.

Her family provided every opportunity for her to be an agent of change in her environment and to impact her world positively such she had her nursery school at International Women Day School, Yaba. She later attended Reagan Memorial Baptist Girls’ Secondary School between 1972 to 1976 and Methodist Girls High School, Yaba for her Lower 6. Her value for education inspired her to write the entrance examination to the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife where she studied Chemistry between 1977 – 1982 and graduated with a B.Sc(Hons) in Chemistry.

Her teaching career started as a Youth Corps member at African Church Grammar School (AFRO) in Abeokuta between 1982 – 1983. She committedly impacted many lives during her teaching career. She was a mother and mentor to many of her students. Her natural skills of sense of humour and strength of character endeared her to the students despite the fact that she was teaching two very important subjects considered difficult by students. She was a lover and teacher of Chemistry and Mathematics. She developed a chemistry between herself and the students such that the two subjects were made easy.

According to one of her students, she was a source of inspiration and assisted the students to chart a fulfilling path. She taught her subjects with passion and provided a sustainable foundation for the students some of who are now Professors.

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Aunty Kemi as she was fondly called by her students traversed from one secondary school to the other in Abeokuta metropolis and attained the pinnacle of the noble profession. She retired from service as a Principal on 10th May 2018 after 35 years of meritorious service.

Oluwakemi met her heartthrob, love, confidant, husband and best friend, Abimbola Olayiwola Abiodun. The chemistry between both of them blossomed and the marriage was solemnized at the Chapel of Resurrection, University of Ibadan on the 23rd of April, 1994. The marriage is blessed with a wonderful and beautiful daughter, Oluwafunmike, Omolara, Lydia, Ogojesu, Omopeyibomi Abiodun.

Though Oluwakemi was born into an Anglican Christian family, she was brought up by the Baptist Mission. In 1986, she gave her life to Jesus Christ during a Retreat at the Deeper Life Bible Church and she never looked back, forging ahead daily.

ValidViewNetwork reports that she held on to the old rugged cross till the very end just as she had always proclaimed in one of her cherished hymns.

Her love for prayers and hymns are remarkable. According to Pastor Mrs Mopelola Arowosafe ” She loves hymns, She never starts or ends her message without singing the old time hymns especially in Yoruba, her native language.

She lived an exemplary life of commitment to God and humanity. She provided balanced equations that watered the ministry of her husband at every point in time and her spiritual gifts were a source of blessings to the church of God. Mummy Abiodun as fondly called within christendom impacted many lives at every facet of her ministry. Her purse was committed to the ministry at every point as she would spend and be spent to achieve a target towards the Kingdom project.

It is noteworthy that Mummy Abiodun was an embodiment of humility. She was a polymer whose role as a committed teacher, versatile preacher, lovely wife to her husband and amiable mother to her children never ran smoothly without a conflict of interest.

In his remarks, the CEO of ValidViewNetwork, Dr. Kayode Ogunjobi applauded her strength, energy, hospitality and sense of humour.

In his words ” Mummy Abiodun was a blessing to many of us. She was a source of encouragement at every point of our sojourn in the ministry. She had great gifts! She was a great woman of love and refreshing candour! She ministered in our Parish and I was surprised that months after, she specifically asked for the wellbeing of some people giving a vivid description of their identity. She would discuss with you freely at home regardless of the stress of the day and challenges of the next day”.

Describing her relationship with Pst (Mrs) Olukemi Adebola Abiodun, Pastor (Mrs) Victoria Omokayo Abatan, the amiable wife of Former Director of Directorate of Christian Education in RCCG, Pastor I.O. Abatan asserted that she was indeed a woman of valour.

According to Mummy Abatan, “In all situations, God wants us to give thanks. Thank God for a life well spent by Mummy Abiodun and the grace to relate with her. I got to know her closer in 2010 when she was the Pioneer Mummy of the New Ogun Province 6, my Province. She was a woman of honour, joyfully and heartily released the same to all levels of Authorities around her. She stood-out as a Virtuous Woman indeed. Her commitment to missions was outstanding which she did at any cost. She would be fondly remembered for her seasonal gifts to all ministers around her: Oh! she was a giver. She would be greatly missed for her special renditions at special programmes of the church”

ValidViewNetwork reports that her love for hymns and prayers remained constant. She was also a lover of the Yoruba language.

The bracket which opened on Sunday 29th January 1961 closed at 5:16am on Monday 22nd August, 2022 when she laid down her sword at the feet of Her Master and Lord whom she served with all that was in her.

Her flight from this world to where her hymns will be more meaningful reminds one of the words of wisdom of Theodore Parker Ferris written many years ago.

‘Teach me, O, Lord, not to hold on to life too tightly. Teach me to hold it lightly, not carelessly, but lightly, easily. Teach me to take it as a gift, to enjoy and cherish while I have it, and to let it go gracefully and thankfully when the time comes. The gift is great, but the giver is greater still. Thou, O God art the giver and in thee is the Life that never dies. Amen”

Mummy Abiodun was a special gift to the world! To the glory of God Almighty, it is not an end but the beginning of another glorious beginning! A place where her hymns are more meaningful as she worships endlessly.

ValidViewNetwork reports that there have been torrential testimonies about the woman of impeccable character and godly virtues.

ValidViewNetwork (2022)